Our readers will find much to interest in the following letters, and to lead to prayer. We would specially call attention to the awakening of interest, as seen in inquiries of some who have it in on their hearts to give themselves to the work of the Gospel in foreign lands. May the Lord give all wisdom and soberness and needed grace. We can surely thank Him for these tokens of His presence.
Extracts from Letters from Dr. E. C. WOODHAMS, Irumu, Congo Beige, Africa, Dec. 1925:
"Many people here are afflicted with a skin disease called yaws, and are isolated. This responds in five days to treatment by injections of Neo Salvarsan, and we have much demand for treatment, but this drug is exhausted and quite expensive. They are glad to pay however, and sometimes bring goats and sheep as payment. All other treatment we give free. We have 30 to 35 medical cases a day which gives us a good opportunity to present the gospel. We had a high privilege last Lord's Day. Our Chief who is the most powerful chief I have known in Africa, gave a big dance and feast for his people, killing two oxen for the occasion. He invited us, and as the Word says, 'If you be disposed to go,' Mr. Searle and I went. All his headsmen and notables were there. I asked him to let me tell them the 'Words of Jesus.' He agreed. The crowd was in a great circle 200 feet across. He in the center gave an oration, displaying his medals and authority as chief, an exhibition of human pride, which his people greatly enjoyed. Then he gave me the floor (or ground, rather), and I preached unto them Jesus. I spoke of the greatness of their chief among them on the earth and then told of the One who is great in Heaven as well as on earth. There was absolute silence by command of the chief, and the best of attention. We look to God that some may give heed as Lydia did. After this the dance went on, but the Spirit of God is not prohibited by the noise of drums, and the Word may have penetrated some hearts. For derision they nickname us the 'people of Jesus,' mostly by Catholics to contrast us with 'The people of the White Fathers.' It is a good name and I often use it for a text. Thank God we are the 'People of Jesus.' We are all well and happy by the Lord's mercy."
From the same. April, 1926:
"We received your cable as follows:'Ton of cement has been forwarded from England, delivery free at Mombasa.' This has just come in time, as we were about to purchase some at Mombasa, and we are sure that what you have shipped will arrive in good shape as it is packed in tin. There would have been 25% to 40% loss, from the experience of others in shipping from Mombasa.
Also thank you for the Neo Salvarsan. I am hoping it will arrive by next mail, as I am badly in need of it having a long waiting list of natives. I have found however it can be ordered in Belgium for about 55% of the American price for the same product and am buying it there. I am including an order for drugs which we will be glad to receive.
We are encouraged and busy. We have had some very happy meetings Lord's Day Mornings. Tuesdays we have Bible readings, at present in Titus. Friday evenings, prayer meetings. Sunday evenings, an address and Bible readings. On Monday evenings we are now having meetings with the native Christians for instruction. There are some six now, two of our former boys came back to us, and one with a Christian wife. The others were saved here under the ministry of those preceding us, the African Inland Mission.
We have been to the forest getting out poles for roof of houses for Miss Wilson and Miss De Jonge. The bricklaying is within a day or two of completion now. Many delays. This is Africa."
Mr. GORDON SEARLE writes, Dec. 1925:
"Foundations are now laid for Miss Wilson's and Miss De Jonge's double house. Stones and clay are being used. Bricks are being made at the rate of 1200 to 1400 a day, and we are about to make a kiln to burn them. We are thankful to God for the friendly attitude of the native chief near-by, who furnishes us the men for labor.
Miss De Jonge and my wife teach the school, which is growing. We are praying for the Lord to open up a girls' and women's work here, and Miss Wilson expects to have this branch in charge. The girls and women do not quite understand yet, but we hope to gain their confidence. Dr. Woodhams' and my labors are of necessity largely manual at present, although Dr. Woodhams sometimes treats as many as 30 patients a day. I have the market work, and hold gospel meetings with the market people. As we learn the language better we hope to extend to the villages more, as we desire the salvation of these people.
Christian greetings to the Lord's dear people at home."
Mrs. R. C. WOODHAMS writes, Dec. 1925:
"As to kind inquiry of sisters who desire to sew for our needs, at present the party is pretty well outfitted, but it would be a great help if they made up shirts and pants for boys from ages 4 to 15 years. Blue denim for pants is good serviceable stuff, and unbleached muslin or strong goods for shirts. If pants are made with straps of same material over shoulders like suspenders, it would serve, as we could not afford to give regular suspenders. Greetings and thanks to our co-workers."
From Miss CORNELIA De JONGE, Dec. 1925:
"The Lord is answering our requests as to workmen needed every month, and the making of bricks and the sawing of lumber for our dwellings is progressing. We have been put to the test different times, but this exercise of faith has been very good for us (Heb. 12:11).
As to kind offers of sisters at home to sew for us, our greatest need just now is for boys' garments, ages 3 to 14 years, of light durable material.
We have held daily sessions at school for three months. We also have language class two or three days a week, and in this way are getting some scripture portions translated into Kibira. This is slow work, but important, to give the people God's own words in their native tongue.
We send greetings and hearty thanks to all the saints for their interest and fellowship."
From the same. April, 1926:
"Yours of Feb. 1st came in last mail with Bank draft, and wish to thank you for remitting same, and also for taking care of the order for the china. We are keeping well through the mercy of our God and continue in the work we have been called to, and interest at both schools and numerous villages continues to be encouraging.
We are in need of more native teachers and evangelists, with a fairly large number of requests for out-schools from several head-men of outlying villages, some of them desire us to build them schools, which we will do eventually, the Lord opening the way.
We are having our boys hoe up the ground, and yesterday the plow came which is being loaned to us for a little while, so we hope to have some more ground cultivated ere long. We have almost 100 natives all told living on the station. It will be a great help to raise some of their food. Now, we have to buy almost all of their 'Posho' (or food) and we are glad to see so many natives coming up from villages with their carts. This brings them within the sound of the gospel and God's goodness to help out on the food question."
Miss ESTHER WILSON writes, Dec. 1925:
"Perhaps I might write a little something of interest to turn the thoughts of the young folks at home to God and eternity even as we desire to do here. A verse of scripture translated in our language would read as follows :-
Magila la Yesu Kristo Miki ma Mungu Blood of Jesus Christ Son of God
Awhelasu makudzana masu mase" washes sin our all
You notice they don't place their words in the same order that we do. All the letters are sounded. Vowels are pronounced as follows:
A like ah
e like eh
i like ee
o like oh
u like oo
The language work is slow but interesting.
From the same, March, 1926:
"I received the draft sent from the General Fund. I also wish to thank you for attending to the order to Montgomery Ward & Co., also the china ordered. I assure you that your fellowship and interest is greatly appreciated. Things here go on about the same. Some days encouraged, and some, otherwise. We all keep quite well, for which we turn with thankful hearts to the One who has blessed us with so many blessings.
The first new house for Miss De Jonge and myself is now about ready for the roof. Of course to finish will take quite a while but it is encouraging to see it so nearly done. We have quite a few little boys on the Station now. It is so much better when they come to stay here, as it means they are under sound of the Gospel from day to day and then their attendance at school is more regular, so they get on faster, and it seems important that they should read the Bible for themselves. We trust the Lord will see fit also to entrust to our care some of the little girls in His own good time. Naturally they are very hard to reach, but God has ability to overrule even the most difficult things and turn them to His glory."
From J. P. RIBEIRO, Parintins, Brazil, April, 1926:
"I thank you for your letter of March 23rd enclosing draft, being ministry from the Missionary Fund. While we give thanks for this directly to our God and Father from whom every good comes, we are glad also to thank the brethren who contributed to the Fund for the remembrance of us in the Lord. Distributing to the necessity of the saints (Romans 12:13) is a very clear exhortation. We trust the blessings of the Lord will be upon you. As to the Lord's testimony in this district, notwithstanding our many failings and weaknesses, we are seeing good results both among saints and sinners."
From D. LAMORUE, Alajuela, Costa Rica, April, 1926:
"I spent last week on a trip to the North, some 15 hours by horse, having over 400 Gospels; also Testaments, tracts, etc. The first day traveling was slow, up and down hills, our Lord giving me the feet of a young trained soldier. The first night in Naranga, a place of nearly 8000; nothing but Rome and its ways. I gave Gospels, tracts, etc., as seemed proper, in all business parts, reading to groups in many different stores and saloons. On the whole, there was a fine interest. Going on to Sarasora and Leguna, I found in these two places many fanatical people, and I read to them showing it was all of Christ, not Mary or images. After reading, they gave me a hearty shake of the hand, and many came to the hotel for Gospels and tracts, so there was much to cheer.
I live very plainly using every effort to further the things of our God and Father. I have a pretty high rent, as I took the building next to the Post Office for the location of a hall of which I have no need to be ashamed. Often things are pretty close.
In most of my trips I am alone. People here are poor, as a laborer gets 50c. to 75c. gold per day, and such things as potatoes, beans, rice, etc., cost more than in the U. S. One wonders how they live."
From CHAS. O. KAUTTO, Taitowying, via Changli, Chihli, North China, Jan. 1926:
"Many thanks for draft of $35. It certainly is wonderful how the Lord is supplying all our needs, yet what is more wonderful is, He is doing it so much through those of whom I have never seen or heard. He is the same Jehovah who recompensed Abraham's faith and assured him when He appeared, saying, 'Fear not, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.' We yearn for that day when we shall reign with our blessed Lord, when the curse of the world will be done away, when the nations learn war no more. Poor China has felt the awful effects of wars these past 14 years. Please help us in your prayers that there may be many more spiritual births among us in the dark heathen country, also that the Lord may send some more workers to this part."
From the same, April, 1926:
"Many thanks for your kind letter of March 23rd, also for draft. May the Lord's richest blessings rest upon the gift and the givers.
I came to China nearly 5 years ago and there has not been so-called peace in China, but wars and fighting are their sport and honor, and fighting is not confined between armies, but extends to every village and every home, and all is on account of envy and jealousy. Robbing and murder are their daily sport. Rom. 3:11-18 is the very picture of them. Well, such is China. The American Methodist Mission, about 20 miles East »of us, and the English Methodist and the Roman Catholics, 25 miles West of us, were robbed by soldiers, and we escaped by the skin of our teeth.
Kindly remember us in your prayers that we may find all our joy and happiness in Him. We should not even so much as think of the 'fish and garlic' of the old world, neither should we waste our time in speaking of them. But only we ourselves should keep ourselves from anything that defames His Precious Name."
From F. Le GARREC, Rue de Verdun, Quiberon, Morbihan, France, Feb. 1926:
"Our Lord does not forget the laborers that He sends into His vineyard . Praise to Him. My work is among the poor priest-ridden people of Brittany, the Lord having delivered me from this same darkness. I find that tracts are gratefully received in most places and I have met a few people who know their sins are forgiven. I am indebted greatly to our brethren, Lacombe, Germain and Loizeaux, for tracts and Testaments. Brethren, pray for us; we are indeed grateful for the brethren's love and sympathy in the Lord's work in Brittany."
From Miss M. ARMERDING, P. O. Box 464, Kingman, Ariz., Feb. 1926:
"May I take this opportunity to thank you for your expression of interest in the work here. I am glad to tell you how the Lord is apparently fitting me into this place. It was so discouraging at first, and besides the field seemed so small, especially when I compared it with the accounts I have so often read of crowded villages and cities in China, but the personal work here with just a few seems to be what is needed, and I find my interest and pleasure in the work increasing from week to week. To be sure, the pleasure is often mixed with pain when one sees no definite results, but there is always the word of comfort from the Lord, that 'in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.' Many times I find these Indian women exercised to the point of tears, but there is always the holding back from the final step that will place them under the shelter of the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are always counting the cost-the giving up of their sinful living, and the mockery of their friends-little realizing how wonderfully the Lord would more than make up to them all that they would ever give up for Him. And mixed with this is ignorance of God's wrath against sin, and the terrible judgment awaiting them outside of Christ.
We long for these precious souls, yea, we yearn over them, and our earnest prayers are that the Lord may yet win many of them for Himself. Our work is to sow the seed and water it, and this we strive to do faithfully, leaving the results to Himself.
Thank you again for your kind letter and for the tracts enclosed."
PRISON WORK.-The subjoined letter calls our attention to another department of service, calling for our prayerful interest. Very many inmates of prisons are foreigners, and in that sense come directly within the scope of our work.
Dear Brother in our Lord,
May 18th, 1926.
"It has been a delightful privilege from time to time for some years past, to visit the State Penitentiaries and seek opportunities to preach the gospel of the grace of God to the thousands of men and women that are 'prisoners' indeed.
I am sure you will be delighted to know that a great work for God has been going on in some of these Institutions. Souls have been truly humbled before God about their sins, and have bowed the knee to Him who said to all such, even though they be criminals, 'Come unto ME, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'
I have in mind one Penitentiary where some 40 men are thus born again. These men have made such an impression upon those in authority, that they are granted a special room for their meetings. Christians on the outside have become so interested in these men, that they now possess a 'Christian Library' which contains quite a good representation of our best and most valued books. These books, I must say here, can only be sent through the Publishers, or the men WILL NOT RECEIVE THEM.
Men whose awful crimes have caused the hearts of their fellows to fairly tremble, are now seeking by every means in their power to win fellow-criminals to Christ. One Institution even allows them to. conduct Open-air Gospel Meetings in the Prison Yard. On Christmas Day, 1924, such a meeting was being held when one of the Guards confessed to these saved criminals, that he was a sinner and wanted to be saved, as they were.
We have a dear sister in fellowship whose whole soul, time, and strength is given to Prison work, and only eternity will declare what our beloved sister has, under God, accomplished. Her name in the hearts and lips of many hundreds of these dear men is 'Mother.'
Another sister in one of our meetings, through a sleepless night, wrote a letter to a young man 'in' for murder. She put the gospel before him (a total stranger to her) ; before very long she was overjoyed at receiving a reply saying he had accepted Christ Jesus as his own personal Saviour.
Not many Prisons permit anything like the same privileges as herein described; but surely we ought all to reserve a place in our daily prayers that God will open the doors of these places, and give those that can go in, the needed wisdom and tactfulness to fill the 'door' to God's glory. Yours for the prison work,
Laurence T. Chambers."